The four sites for new modular hospital beds have been confirmed as Osborne Park Hospital, Rockingham General Hospital, Bunbury Regional Hospital and Bentley Health Service.
Each site will house a new 30 bed modular ward facility, delivering an additional 120 beds to enhance bed capacity across the Western Australian health system. These form part of 270 additional hospital beds announced in early November.
The 270 new beds costing approximately $206.8 million will be supported by $191.2 million to fund 410 extra nurses and more than 180 extra doctors working in our hospital wards.
The commissioning of these modular beds marks a new era for the WA public health system as it surges its hospital capacity as WA learns to live with COVID-19.
Modular hospital beds have been used successfully throughout the world during the COVID-19 pandemic and offer a clinically safe, expedited option over bricks and mortar site construction.
The delivery of the four modular facilities, which is part of the 270 new beds costing approximately $206.8 million, will be used for patients who do not need acute care and who are likely awaiting placement in more appropriate community-based facilities.
The Department of Health, working in partnership with the Department of Finance, is progressing this project. A letter of intent has been issued to a contractor to enable work to begin. This will fast-track the project and allow the State to work collaboratively with the contractor immediately.
Construction of the new facilities is expected to be completed by mid-2022.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"These modular beds are another tool in Western Australia's arsenal against COVID-19.
"A first of its kind for the WA health system, the 120 new beds will allow us to continue to surge and remain agile in the face of this pandemic.
"As a Government, we have protected Western Australians against the virus, while we have prepared our hospital system. We are one of the only jurisdictions in the world that have managed to achieve this."
